12.29.2016

We started off the month with a miscarriage. At 10 weeks I went in for the ultrasound and there was no heartbeat to be found. Baby had stopped growing around 6 weeks and that was it. I waited for a few days and my body did what it was supposed to. While I was obviously saddened by the loss, I had felt all along like something was wrong and knew that this wouldnt have been a healthy baby. Mentally I knew it was the right thing, but emotionally I struggled a bit.

To make things a little worse, about 4 days after the miscarriage our pipes all backed up. I went in our bathroom to find a few inches of standing water in our shower, and the same thing in the other shower on the main level. After calling around all day we finally got a plumber to come help us fix it. Turns out those tampons I was using from the previous mess got stuck on a huge root blocking about 85% of our pipes. The plumbers temporarily fixed the clog, and quoted us a good $5000 to fix the root:(

Fast forward another couple days . . . on the following Friday I went to the bus stop with the boys as usual to pick up Jada from the bus. I parked in my usual spot. As the bus started to pass me it kept getting closer and closer, until BAM. She sideswiped me. My poor van was smashed on the tail end. Luckily no one was hurt and it really wasn't a big deal (aside from the fact that my car needed serious work)

I about lost it. I didn't understand why all these things had to happen within two weeks of each other! Couldn't I have some time to recover!?

But life happens. Everything worked out. We met some great people along our path.

UPDATE: We ended up betting the pipes roto rootered and that was a good temporary fix until we are ready to pay the big bucks, and once I got in touch with the correct person, Cobb County was awesome and hooked us up with a Tahoe while our van was in the shop for a month. It all worked out, but boy was it rough going for awhile.

12.23.2016

Since we were going to be spending our first Christmas at home, we had to start our own traditions. Of course we kept some of our usual traditions, but this time we had to do them on our won.

I built up the courage to make moms gingerbread houses, and it all went pretty smoothly. The kids loved decorating their houses. Memphis wasn't as into the decorating as much as he was the eating of the candy. He was filling his house and chair up with candy trying to stow it away for later. It was pretty awesome. I am glad I took the time to make these houses and to have this tradition with our family.

Another family tradition: acting out the nativity. I have never had to try to do it with just our little family, but I learned very quickly how tricky it is:) We invited Maimi and Poppi to help us out. We webchatted with them and had them read the scripture account while we all acted it out. It was a little crazier than I expected, but we did it!

My sweet Boo Boo Bear. He loves his Christmas jammies!

Michael's family has a tradition of caroling. Michael tries every year to get me to go to the neighbors caroling with him and the kids . . . but I always give him the VETO. I don't mind it in larger groups, but really it's just not something I love. Well, this year we found the perfect compromise, caroling at a local Nursing Home. It was perfect. People who actually want to hear us sing and are happy to have us there.

We had a fun night with our friends the Munks, Nielsens, Roberts, and Meiers, caroling to the old folks, then getting dinner together at Maddio's. It was great.

12.22.2016

A few days before Christmas break, Jada's class had their "Holiday Breakfast". She was so excited for her brothers and dad to see her class and to meet all her friends.

Jada loves her sweet teacher Ms. Cochran, and her assistant teachers Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Pepe. She has been loving Kindergarten and her new friends and school. Jada's best friends are Lily & Grace Rapplean, Amelia Herring, and Amber Byars. Jada gets along with all her classmates, and loves to play chase with all the boys at recess.

We had a wonderful time meeting all her friends, their parents, and her teachers. They all speak so highly of Jada and say she is always helping her classmates out and going above and beyond. We sure love our sweet Jada and are so glad she was placed in Ms. Cochran's class. She has been perfect for her and has made the transition into school so easy and smooth.